Iran's Pezeshkian warns Trump against 'turmoil', urges dialogue

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday urged US President Donald Trump to avoid creating turmoil, saying problems could be resolved through dialogue and implementation of a memorandum of understanding reached earlier this year. Speaking at a ceremony in Tehran, the president emphasized that diplomatic engagement remained the preferred path forward despite ongoing tensions.

"If we proceed through dialogue and on the basis of the memorandum of understanding, we will resolve the problems and secure our rights," Pezeshkian said during the event, according to Mehr News Agency. He added that regional stability hinged on American and Israeli restraint: "It is in the interest of the country, the region and the world that Trump does not create turmoil and that Israel does not cause insecurity and aggression," he said.

Defiance and domestic priorities

Pezeshkian stressed that Iran does not favor war but would respond firmly to any assaults on its territory. "We do not like war, but we will stand with strength against aggression and defend ourselves," he said, adding that no power could force a united nation determined to defend its territory to surrender. The president also accused Israel of seeking to sow divisions among Muslim countries, suggesting that greater unity among Islamic nations could thwart such efforts.

The president designated maintaining industrial production during the coming winter as a "red line" for his administration, insisting that supplies of gas, electricity and water to production facilities should not be interrupted. He said the government would manage consumption of essential resources and, if restrictions became necessary, would first impose them on government offices and public buildings rather than shift the burden onto the public.

US-Israeli war context

The US-Israeli war against Iran began on Feb. 28, with attacks targeting military, nuclear and infrastructure sites across the country. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US military facilities across the region. Tehran and Washington reached a 14-point memorandum of understanding in June, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, aimed at ending hostilities and opening a 60-day window for negotiations toward a broader agreement.

The June memorandum also addressed the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and lifting of the US naval blockade, as well as sanctions and Iran's frozen assets. Tehran has maintained that further progress in talks depends on Washington fulfilling its commitments under the memorandum, while Iranian officials have said the Strait of Hormuz will not fully reopen until those obligations are implemented.